Read the following passage and answer the questions below: “In the history of nation-building only the Soviet experiment bears comparison with the Indian. There too, a sense of unity had to be forged between many diverse ethnic groups, religious, linguistic communities and social classes. The scale – geographic as well as demographic – was comparably massive. The raw material the state had to work with was equally unpropitious: a people divided by faith and driven by debt and disease.” — RAMACHANDRA GUHA
List the commonalities that the author mentions between India and Soviet Union and give one example for each of these from India.
The author mentions three commonalities between India and Soviet Union:
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Diversity: Both had to forge unity among diverse ethnic groups, religious, linguistic communities and social classes. Example from India: India was a land of continental size and diversity where people spoke different languages and followed different cultures and religions.
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Massive Scale: Both had comparably massive geographic as well as demographic scale. Example from India: India was a land of continental size with a huge population.
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Unpropitious Circumstances: Both states had to work with people divided by faith and driven by debt and disease. Example from India: The partition appeared to prove everyone's worst fears about whether India would survive as a unified country.
The author does not talk about dissimilarities between the two experiments. Can you mention two dissimilarities?
Two dissimilarities between the Indian and Soviet experiments:
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Political System: India chose to run the country through democratic government, whereas the Soviet Union followed an authoritarian one-party communist system.
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Approach to Diversity: India chose to shape itself into a nation that was united yet accommodative of diversity in society, respecting regional and sub-national identities. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, imposed unity often by suppressing diverse identities.
In retrospect which of these two experiments worked better and why?
In retrospect, the Indian experiment worked better. India survived as a unified country despite diversity and serious questions about its future at Independence. India successfully established a democratic government that reflected the aspirations of people across different regions. Unlike the Soviet Union which disintegrated, India managed to accommodate diversity while maintaining national unity. India's approach of unity with accommodation proved more sustainable than the Soviet approach of imposed unity.
Explanation
This question tests understanding of nation-building challenges. Part (a) requires identifying commonalities directly from the passage - diversity, scale, and unpropitious circumstances. Part (b) requires critical thinking beyond the text to contrast India's democratic and accommodative approach with Soviet authoritarianism. Part (c) evaluates which model proved more successful historically - India's democratic accommodation versus Soviet collapse. The context highlights India's success in staying united despite diversity and establishing democracy.